Materials

Ceramics

Within the field of ceramics, China was the great source of inspiration for the Middle East. Although Muslim potters never managed to make coveted porcelain, they did invent tin-glazed earthenware: faience. They further developed fritware, introduced lusterware and underglaze painting, and mastered many other decoration techniques.

In 13th-century Iran, there were so many different types of ceramics that no comparable variation was found until the 19th century, in Europe.

Although ceramics can break, it does not decompose and cannot be recycled, so this is the group of works of art from the Islamic world that is best preserved.

Syria; c. 1150
H: 7; Diam: 20.5 cm

Like its Fatimid, Egyptian models, Syrian Tell Minis pottery was experimental. It comprised tin-glazed earthenware, fritware with an opaque, white glaze, and fritware under a clear glaze that let the ware’s pale-pink color shine through.

The frontally positioned Mediterranean figure and splendid palmettes also point the way to Fatimid lusterware. The clothing and headgear do not tell us clearly whether this is a young man or a woman, and neither can we readily identify the objects – a beaker and a fruit? – in his or her hands.